Cuthbert warning over New Zealand test

Wing Alex Cuthbert has warned his Wales team-mates they must perform this weekend or face humiliation at the hands of New Zealand.

Published 20th November 2012

Alex Cuthbert says Wales have a lot to prove

Wales' autumn campaign has thus far been an exercise in despair. The Six Nations champions turned in woeful displays in defeats to Argentina and Samoa that have left them in grave danger of missing out on a top-eight seeding for December's 2015 World Cup draw.

"We haven't played the rugby we want to play so far this autumn, that is still to come," Cuthbert said. "Playing a team like New Zealand will hopefully bring that out, we are better players than we have shown, we are a class team with class players, and have a lot to prove."

Wales were booed off by their own fans following those losses to Argentina and Samoa, just eight months after the rapturous acclaim for their Six Nations Grand Slam.

Cuthbert has no issues with the supporters voicing their dissatisfaction, but says it is vital Wales give them a reason to get behind the home team against the All Blacks.

"I came into the squad on one hell of an up with us winning the Grand Slam after the World Cup," he said.

"But every player goes through these experiences, it is the first time for me and hopefully we can get through it over the next couple of weeks.

"When I started and we were winning everyone was loving it, and we have played two bad games with the fans expecting a lot from us.

"We have high expectations ourselves and for us to lose the games like we did... I don't really blame the fans for booing, we weren't good enough on the day.

"How we play in the first 20 minutes will be important on Saturday, if we can make it a contest the crowd will be 110 per cent behind us and we know what the crowd can do in that stadium, there is no other crowd like it."